AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18487, 15 September 1925, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS.

»_ PICTURE HOUSES. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. CORLNNE GRIFFITH IN 1 "DECLASSE." LOCAL RUGBY ENCOUNTERS. Declasse— dragged down, a social outcast, a iomu who once enjoyed the best that this material world can give, bereft of all ezcept the one thing that really matters—her selfrespect and her constancy for the man she loved. The reward is in keeping with her faithfulness and the sacrifices she had made to preserve it. Snch is the theme running through the main attraction at Everybody's this week, "Declasse," starring that beautiful movie favourite and inimitable actress, Corinne Griffith. The role of Lady Helen Haden, that of a charming woman who has made an unhappy marriage, which is entrusted to her is by no means an easy one, entailing is it does a series ci difficult situations demanding much of the actress. Moreover, it, is a P»rt that can be, and too frequently is, over-played by screen artists. But Miss Griffith's interpretation is far thorn this and is charming in its very naturalness. It enhances the reputation which this popuhuj movie actress already possesses. The basis of the story is wedding bells which refuse to ring, the old tragedy of the wrong man. Lady Helen's real passion is a voung American, Ned Thayer. Thayer las, however, fallen into the hands of a "social bridge fiend," and becomes clay in her hands to be well moulded but luckily not to be baked hard. The ensuing situation is tho story of his redemption, his dramatic return from a prolonged exile in Africa and the seeking and finding of the woman created only for him Lloyd Hughes, in the part of Lady Helen 8 first husband—by no means a sympathetic one—handles the «ituaiion well, whiie Clive Brook, a newcomer to the movie stage, performs creditablv as Solomon. Louise Fazenda, Hedda Hopper, Rockliffe Fellowes, Lilyan Taohmaa, Joan Standing and Eddie Lyons are other prominent members of the MBt - . .«r ■»• .1 • The screen version of Lena Rivers is the cupporting attraction and is a good production with much of the human interest, pathos and dramatic situation which has teen seen in such, pictures as "Tho Old Homestead," and "Way Down East." The cast includes Earle Wikiams, Johnny Walker, Gladys Hulette, Edna Murphy, Doris Rankin, and others. - An added attraction of much local interest k the screening of the Canterbury schools' seven-a-side tournament, where 1400 young "All Blacks" are seen wearing the jersey. Moreover, those who did not see the Can-terbury-Southland representative match on the Oval have only to wend their way to Everybody's to see the game re-played, and those who saw the match will derive additional enjoyment in seeing the contest reenacted on the silver sheet. The "Select" Orchestra under the baton of Mr W. J. Bellingham, is at its beat with a varied programme of popular items, the. work of the trio of local artists, Misses Norma and Doris and Bonnie Young being specially appreciated. Chief among the Hems are:—Overture, Motor-Maid" (Braham); ballet music, "Coppelia" (Delibes); suites, "Thais, and Talmade" (Campbell); string suite, "Musio Pictures" (Foulds); entr'acte, Egmont (Beethoven) and Old Favourites (Seredy); trio, D Major, of 35 (Hummel). Included in the lighter selections were "Crown Diamonds" (Auber) and the fox-trot*, "Southern Rose" (Hayerl), t"Song of Songs" (Moya).

QUEEN'S THEATRE. »'-■ mm i , GREAT WESTERN STORY. TOM MIX IN THE RAINBOW TRAIL." The most popular star in filmdom, Tom Mix, the hew of a hundred Western thrillers, has his tig rohj in "The Rajnbopr Trail," the Fox super-feature, screened at the Queen's Theatre for the first time yesterday. That. is not the. only big picture on the hill. Edmund Lowe is featured in a mystery romance, "Champion of Lost Causes," which hold gripping and startling situations. The supports include some firstrate films and the Queen's Orchestra plays a fine ecore in its characteristic style. "The Rainbow Trail" was specially writ"•ten by the Western novelist, Zane Grey, as ; a sequel to the famous "Riders of the Purple Sage/' Heading the oast cf notable players are Toth Mix, fearless jhorsemap, and the wonder i horse. The picture .carries the spectator along with its -deep flow of human drama to one of the most startling climaxes ever photographed. Tony, the wonder horse, has an/important part in the picture. .He. carries his master through perilous situations in the beautiful, rugged, 1 snow-capped mountains of the North-West. i While making, the picture, Mix performed new deeds of daring. The picture is full of swift situations, and the story an engrossing one of a man's' hunt for the girl of his dreams. The trails leads him to Sur- <• prise Valley,'where his'uncle, Jim Lassiter, a. woman, and the girl have been held pris- ?■ oner for years. An outlaw band tries to "thwart his,efforts .to rescue them, but, after -overcoming apparently insurmountable ob- ,; etacles and fighting a desperate battle, he succeeds. As is usual with Western pic* 'tnresj there is plenty of dare'-devil riding, many fights, and, the action starts at the very beginning "of the picture, and does not letup for one second until the final fadeout. •

Mystery stalks through every foot of » "Champion of Lost Causes," in which Edmund Lowe is starred. Barbara Bedford

heads the supporting cast. This picture has " been .adapted from a story b<y Max Brand, —land has to do ■with a mysterious murder .gang, who -blame a certain younjr roan for a murder recently committed. The unravelling of this mystery makes a fine photoplay. A charming love story runs through the picture. The supports include a comedy, an educational subject, and the latest Fox News. Incidental music is rendered by the Queen's ' Orchestra, -under the direction of Mr H. ; Ell Wood.

V STRAND THEATRE. • "Tie Painted Flapper," featuring James Kirfcwood, Pauline Garon, and Kathlynn Williams, beads . the bill at tho Strand Theatre this week. Arline 'Whitney, -was the care-free, frivolous daughter of Mrs Whitney. She was at the height of her pleasures, • and -was known to her compaoions as "Ihe Painted Flapper." There ..are also shown "The Riddle Rider" (episode 11), Buddy Messinger comedy, "Almost a Husband," International News, and Jack Uempsey in the "Fight and Win" scries. -LIBERTY THEATRE. -."• Many pictures have been made since the well remembered film The Sheik" in tho ; hope to win portion of tho praise given by liublio and Press alike to it. But, aiter . Yiswimj the excellent programme at the Liberty Theatre, it is quite safo to say that the only rival "Tho Sheik" has had since • its record screening in this city is _ "The Arab," a ""Metro masterpece, which is tho Iwedliner on the current bill. Youth, love, and speed are all mixed up in tho second attraction on the bill, entitled "Daring Youth," which features Bebo Daniels and Norman Kerry. Tho picture is purely ■ a comedy-drama of love, life, and laughter in New York's high society circles. GRAND THEATRE. Many peoplo will remember the famous picture, "The Four Horsemen of "the Apocalypse," and the leading actress, Alice Terry, who made her film naVe in that big production. Now she appears again at the tirand Theatre, in- a film version of George Gibus's celebrated novel, "Sackcloth and Scarlet." The story lends itself to picture treatment admirably. "Honour Among Men," the eeoond big attraction, is taken from the well-known tale, • King's Jackal," by Richxrcl Hardin- jjavis. It is a Win. Vox special feature, and the story -tills of the beautiful and rich American .girl who gets, mixed 'up in the affairs of 'a^-little principality whose ting has been exiled.

GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE. "THE MAX IN BLUE." "MEDDLING WOMEN," STARRING LIONEL BARRYMORE. An excellent programme was screened last night at the Greater Costal Palace. The main picture was "The Man in Blue," and the second attraction was "Meddling Women," starring Lionel Barrymore. "The Man in Blue" was a talc of an American policeman and an Italian girl, in the Italian settlement of an American city. Madge Bellamy, as Lita Theresa, the Italian flower-girl, was fairer than all her flowers, fresh, naive, and charming. Her simple trust in the "Signor Cop," and the worth of her policemen lover, are refreshing features in the plots and intrigues of the picture. Herbert Rawlinson, as Tom Conlin, the man in blue, is the lovable Irishman, with a great heart and an hereditary delight in a good fight. Conlin falls in love with the flower-girl. Vitti. a powerful, Tepulsive Italian, desires the girl for himself. He rules the Italian settlement, being opposed only by the temperamental editor of the local Italian newspaper. The girl wishes to choose for herself, but her uncle is told by Titti to keep her seclnded. She escapes from his custody and Vitti punishes him by making him the victim of an "accident." On her uncle's death she is taken under the guardianship of Vitti, and being led by circumstances to believe her policeman lover is married, consents to be the bride of her guardian. The night before her wedding Vitti kills a poor, deluded lover of Lita, and Conlin comes to his house to save the girl. Meantime she has escaped and rushed to the cafe. There she shelters under the wing of the most obliging editor. Vitti calls his gang together and sets off to recapture her. Conlin sends a message for help, and sets out to defend her. He and the editor engage

the whole gang on the Etairs of the cafe in a glorious fight, until reinforcements come. Conlin captures one of Vitti's creatures, thus gaining a reward of five thousand dollars, and the editor has the sublime happiness of running a lengthy sword through Vitti's capacious* body. "Sure," says Conlin " 'twas the most glorious fight I've hAd since I left Ireland." They sit breathless and unromantically on the stairs, the girl neglectful of her bridal dress, Conlin a sorry mass of bruises. Lita, still believing him married, promises to be his sister. Conlin refuses the offer and proffers a more practical suggestion. It is accepted. In "Meddling Women," Barrymore has fine scope, to portray his recognised ability for dramatic acting. The picture opens with a scene in his mother's house. His wife, Grace,' wishes to make a contract with Barrymore's friend, Harold. Barrymore's mother, fearing for her son's happiness if his wife goes on the ' stage, tries to forbid the proposal. Barrymore's feminine cousin assists nobody by chatting gossip to everybody. The picture shows how Barrymore's life is completely ruined by the wellinten-

tioned interference of his mother and the gossiping proclivities of his cousin. He becomes separated from his wife, leads a vicious life, falls in love with a dancing girl, accidentally shoots a man when drunk, loses his memory, and is thought to be dead. His wife marries again at the instigation of Barrymore's mother. On the afternoon of the wedding Barrymore recovers his memory and rushes home. Just as he takes his wife to his arms the dancing girl shoots him. The picture has been carried to an artistic conclusion. There seems nothing more to be said. Suddenly the veil is lifted, and the audience rubs its numerous eyes to find it has been quite deluded. How so, is the most dramatic incident of the play. Barrymore, as Edwin A ins worth, is n splendid -actor. Jn the picture he plays another part —that of John Wells, bootlegger. The programme includes a humorous Century Comedy, "The Gridiron Girl," and an International News film. The Crystal Palace Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mr Alfred J. Bunz, adds considerably to the enjoyment of the evening. The musical programme includes the following numbers:—"Pique Dame" (Suppc), the opening representing the old woman with the walking stick; "Symphony No. 6" (Beethoven), the movement expressing the meeting of the villagers, followed by the JSghtning and the storm music, which is 'played with fine spirit; "Romance Andaluza" (Sarasate), an andantino number, the solo opening with the 'cello, the violin having the second theme, the whole number blending well with the Italian scene on the Screen; "A la Fontaine," a charming tranquil number, and the moderato "Sur. les Cimes," a flowing number with impressive effects, both from "Impressions d'ltalie" (Charpentier)". Landon Roland "Popular Songs"; "Valse Orient" (Johann Strauss); "Hungarian Dance, No. 13" (Brahms); entr'acte, "Honolulu Bhies" (Davis), which received a doublo encore.